tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14858354817543295092016-09-08T00:33:12.484-04:00Gastrically Changedmy hilarious journey to changing myself after gastric bypass surgery...Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-15364418090269193122012-08-18T22:17:00.002-04:002012-08-18T22:17:54.905-04:00Wedded Bliss...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-btqAEes8IBA/UDBMBvhmgtI/AAAAAAAAAaM/ezuGNgbfkqU/s1600/530194_10150996434542694_1945328139_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="508" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-btqAEes8IBA/UDBMBvhmgtI/AAAAAAAAAaM/ezuGNgbfkqU/s640/530194_10150996434542694_1945328139_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The newest Mr and Mrs! <br /><br />I have never felt so beautiful in my entire life. <br /><br />The wedding was everything I could have ever dreamed. &nbsp;I will tell you all about it....right after the honeymoon! &nbsp;Off to the Bahamas! &nbsp; ; )Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-37237461199372598162012-06-08T17:42:00.002-04:002012-06-08T17:44:49.620-04:00Showered with love...Where have I been?&nbsp; Let me explain…<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q633qCcYdlo/T9Jtbr7sWdI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/SZukPTaWUZE/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q633qCcYdlo/T9Jtbr7sWdI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/SZukPTaWUZE/s200/9.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my friend Liz!</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Times;">#1- As I have said before, I’m not having as many “fat to skinny” epiphanies anymore.&nbsp; Which leaves me with writers block.&nbsp; I live my life everyday and the fact that I used to weigh 300lbs isn’t really even a thought.&nbsp; Weird, but true.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">#2- I am officially declaring my camera lost.&nbsp; So I haven’t taken “non iPhone” pictures in almost a year.&nbsp; This lack of pictures make my posts more boring, in my opinion.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">My life is so wonderful.&nbsp; I wouldn’t want to change a thing.&nbsp; (Well…unless I could request becoming independently wealthy.&nbsp; So I could just pay for my wedding in cash…)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pdPTinR6nh8/T9JtYVWX2YI/AAAAAAAAAZI/yHJyRUpHE2E/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pdPTinR6nh8/T9JtYVWX2YI/AAAAAAAAAZI/yHJyRUpHE2E/s200/3.jpg" width="148" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Bridesmaids/man <br />Cara, Michelle, me, Ang,&nbsp;and Mike. <br />(Lindsey was in&nbsp;sunny&nbsp;California&nbsp;and<br />was greatly missed!)</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Times;">It’s been almost two and a half years since my surgery and I’m doing and feeling great.&nbsp; At my “2 year check-up”&nbsp; I found out that I have put on 13lbs this last year.&nbsp; I blame Chris for brining pizza back into my life, but really there is no one to blame but myself!&nbsp; My doctor told me it was OK but gave me a stern warning about gaining anymore.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">It was a real eye opener.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">SO, after increasing my workouts a little and watching what I eat (yes…I’m on a DIET)&nbsp; I’m already down 5 pounds.&nbsp; Basically, I just stopped eating crap and my personal trainer just shouts “WEDDING DRESS!” at me when I want to give up my workouts.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Worked like a charm.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vOdX8-FoW5k/T9JtZc7_K-I/AAAAAAAAAZY/C-sNaEqHB3w/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vOdX8-FoW5k/T9JtZc7_K-I/AAAAAAAAAZY/C-sNaEqHB3w/s200/5.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nLM3QUQNyT4/T9JtXLtYmlI/AAAAAAAAAYw/8BjglWJX4Kg/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nLM3QUQNyT4/T9JtXLtYmlI/AAAAAAAAAYw/8BjglWJX4Kg/s200/1.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Times;">BUT…the REAL reason for this post is that my Bridal shower was last weekend and there were cameras.&nbsp; Lots of them.&nbsp; And my dress was beyond fabulous.&nbsp; So, I snagged some of my friend’s pictures off the lovely Facebook and decided to update the few stragglers that might still be watching here.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Hello stragglers! : )<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;">My shower was beyond perfection.&nbsp; Everything a girl could ever want or dream of.&nbsp; I have never been so happy and felt so loved in my entire life.&nbsp; I have the best bridesmaids and bridesman in the whole world.&nbsp; There aren’t enough words to thank them for all their time and hard work. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">We had delicious dinner (my choice was the chicken and vegetable pasta…unreal!) but dessert was AH-MAZING.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BenhiciOJUA/T9JtY6lBlEI/AAAAAAAAAZM/yOu7GOxLF8I/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BenhiciOJUA/T9JtY6lBlEI/AAAAAAAAAZM/yOu7GOxLF8I/s320/4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Mike, and the amazing cake!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I would like to recommend to the brides of the world that you must have a bridesman….because when you have a brideman, you get a wedding shower cake that looks like THIS!!!&nbsp; I was blown away.&nbsp; This cake is way nicer than my wedding cake will be…for real.&nbsp; I still get goosebumps just looking at the picture.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--pKivMiAipo/T9JtZ9ut0vI/AAAAAAAAAZg/3LHUr3sKSLo/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--pKivMiAipo/T9JtZ9ut0vI/AAAAAAAAAZg/3LHUr3sKSLo/s200/6.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lollipops!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">The centerpieces were adorable and delicious…the best kind of combination, in my opinion.&nbsp; They were lovingly crafted by my future mother and sister in-law.&nbsp; &nbsp;People were fighting to take them away!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">My fantastic group didn’t stop there!&nbsp; All the little details made this day so special…like the signature sangria drinks (matching the shower colors of course!), the awseome citrus salt and wine stoppers to take home, and our game prizes???&nbsp; Coach bags.&nbsp; YES…I SAID COACH BAGS!&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BicR8kjvc5A/T9JtX67gV1I/AAAAAAAAAY8/DWTGLb5Vwtk/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BicR8kjvc5A/T9JtX67gV1I/AAAAAAAAAY8/DWTGLb5Vwtk/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My own special Coach bag. &nbsp;:: LOVE ::<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">This shower was amazing.&nbsp;&nbsp; And even though it was only a week ago, I still can’t believe it was for me.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I’m signing off here with the warning that I don’t know when I will be back.&nbsp; (Probably, after my wedding in August.)&nbsp; But I always respond to comments and e-mails (Hi Chrissi!) and would be happy to answer questions anytime…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">See you after the wedding!!! &nbsp;(8/17/12)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rMYScaI8DYU/T9Jtb7wpcOI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/OaTTkVMaGaE/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rMYScaI8DYU/T9Jtb7wpcOI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/OaTTkVMaGaE/s640/10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom, me, and my future mother-in-law</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-69183808873949995672011-11-11T03:41:00.001-05:002011-11-11T03:46:18.582-05:00Happy Birthday, Dad!<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Soooo…I went to yoga with Beth today…for the first time in a loooong time.&nbsp; For some reason, I continue to believe I am experienced at yoga.&nbsp;&nbsp; But I’m just not. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">In fact, I usually just silently giggle my way through the whole class….just trying to keep up with the yoga teacher….(aka: Speedy Gonzales)…and to not fall on my butt.&nbsp; By the end, my whole body was sore.&nbsp; But I like it anyways.&nbsp; It’s good to change it up every once in a while.&nbsp; &nbsp;It keeps life interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">But today was more than just a yoga day.&nbsp; It was my dad’s birthday.&nbsp; And that is just totally awesome.&nbsp; : )<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">In the beginning, my family was really concerned about my decision to have this surgery.&nbsp; It was hard, but I completely understood why. &nbsp;I went forward with it anyway because I KNEW it was the best move for me.&nbsp; Regardless of how they felt, they helped me through the stressful times, and agree with my decision now…but most of them still don’t think it would be the right choice for them.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">And I respect that.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">My family has always been in a constant state of weight loss.&nbsp; (Some times more serious than others!) &nbsp;Different things work for different people, but my dad had been asking me a lot about my surgery and how it worked.&nbsp; I always encouraged trying diet and exercise first, because it is the less risky option.&nbsp; But that’s not always what people want to hear.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">So, for Mother’s and Father’s day, I set up a 1:1 session for Beth to go to my parent’s house and set up a program for them.&nbsp; I was worried about their health (like only a daughter who is a nurse can) and I really just wanted to give them the gift of feeling as good as I did. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Well, the session stirred something up…especially in my dad…and over the summer (after months of me harassing him to come) my dad accepted an invitation to try the <a href="http://www.tntfitclub.com/">TNT boot camp</a> with me.&nbsp; &nbsp;I was shocked because, to be honest, I never actually thought he ever say yes.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Well, not only did he come with me…he did AWESOME.&nbsp; He signed up for 2 months of programs and has been dropping LBs like it’s his JOB!&nbsp; He’s following a healthy diet and eating the best I have ever seen.&nbsp; And his diet and exercise regimen has inspired my mom to diet and start her own work out program.&nbsp; He didn’t even want a birthday cake this year!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I’m SO proud. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">It’s also really cool to work out with my dad on Saturday mornings.&nbsp; We never really had a special “thing” that we did together…just the two of us.&nbsp; Boot camp has become our special time.&nbsp; He motivates everyone in the class and totally keeps me on my toes when Beth isn’t looking.&nbsp; There s nothing like your dad telling you that you’re slacking off to get you going again.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I absolutely LOVE it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Why am I sharing this?&nbsp; Well, for one, I think it’s good to see that diet and exercise are great things to try before you consider something more serious, like surgery.&nbsp;&nbsp; I know I’ve said it before, but I believe surgery isn’t the “be all, end all” solution for weight loss.&nbsp; It will work for some people, but not for others.&nbsp; You should really try other things before you settle on surgery. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Secondly, I wanted to tell you how awesome it is to see my family getting healthy.&nbsp; THEY are inspiring ME to stay on track…and I just feel so happy about it.&nbsp; &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Really.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Like, “warm fuzzy feeling” happy! &nbsp;</span>::&nbsp;smile ::</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I guess I just want there to be A LOT more “happy birthdays” in my family’s future…even if we have to skip the birthdays cake, sometimes!&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!!!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQUwJ1WFq6E/TrzgeX8HCnI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/_9XJ01zt6r0/s1600/313564_10150359511778317_528008316_8349479_520559192_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQUwJ1WFq6E/TrzgeX8HCnI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/_9XJ01zt6r0/s400/313564_10150359511778317_528008316_8349479_520559192_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-27181726232595095332011-10-21T00:27:00.001-04:002011-10-21T00:31:59.581-04:00Answers for anonymous...<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I friggin’ love it when you guys comment on my blog.&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">:: &nbsp;big smile &nbsp;::</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Every time you do, I get a little e-mail and it makes my heart skip a beat.&nbsp; It reminds me that you guys are really there reading….that I am helping some of you…and each one motivates me to keep writing.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">So the other day I got this little comment from someone who is about to have surgery next week:&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Hi Kristen,<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>You look fantastic and I am so happy to see that you are updating your blog again. Like many others I check it several times a week! I am having my surgery on Monday and have found your blog to be more helpful than even what the doctor's, nutritionists, etc have said. I do have a couple questions for you if you have the time. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>1. Did you experience a lot or any extra skin after your weight loss? If so, what did you feel worked best for you to help with that. I am worried about that. I am hoping to lose about 100lbs and understand that extra skin is unavoidable but any tips would be appreciated. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>2. Looking back on your journey, do you have any advice or anything you wish you knew before going through the surgery?<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Again, thank you for your blog!"</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I know that having someone to ask questions is important, so I never mind answering as many as I can.&nbsp; &nbsp;But, since a lot of you don’t send me a personal message with somewhere private to respond to, I always assume it is ok for me to answer them in a post.&nbsp; And&nbsp;until someone says otherwise, I’m just going to go with it.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">SO…That being said, let me see if I can answer some of these great questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Excess skin was my worst fear ever.&nbsp; I had horrible visions of floppy “bat wing” arms and jiggling belly skin.&nbsp; In fact, it bothered me so much that I wrote about it in one of my first blog entries <a href="http://gastricallychanged.blogspot.com/2010/03/bat-wings_17.html">here</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;I knew I didn’t want to trade the skin for the scars that came with the surgeries, so I did the only other thing I could think of.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I hit the gym.&nbsp; Specifically, the weights.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Currently, do I have excess skin?&nbsp; Sure I do.&nbsp; &nbsp;Right now the most noticeable skin on my body is on my belly, but you can’t really tell through my clothes.&nbsp; At some point, I plan to have an abdominoplasty (AKA: tummy tuck) but I feel that is something I’m not going to pursue until after I have babies.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I mean…what’s the point of doing that BEFORE having a pregnant belly….right?!?&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">There is also a minimal amount of excess skin in my arms, legs, and butt…but you can hardly tell (especially in my arms) because of the fact that I decided to weight train as I lost weight.&nbsp; Personally, I hired a trainer to teach me how to exercise…which helped a ton…but it is certainly something you could do in a class or on your own!&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>I understand that having a trainer may not be an option for everyone, but I rationalized it by thinking about all the money I was saving by not having to spend so much on food!&nbsp; Seriously though, learning how to exercise and sticking with it for almost 2 years is the number one thing that has made this surgery so successful for me.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">No question.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">To answer your second question, I truly wished that before this surgery I had realized how important it was to write down my thoughts...how I was feeling…what I was going through.&nbsp; Oh, what I would give to have started this blog from day one….or even a few weeks before I went into the hospital.&nbsp; Because, funny as it sounds to you now, as time goes on…and the weight goes down…you forget what it was like to be fat.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I frequently go back and read posts from over a year ago.&nbsp; They remind me of how far I’ve come.&nbsp; And, through tougher times, they really keep me going forward.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">You don’t have to write in a public forum, like I do.&nbsp; Buy a journal and just jot things down as they come to you.&nbsp; Keep track of your weight loss.&nbsp; And no matter what you think PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, take “before” pictures.&nbsp;&nbsp; You don’t ever have to show them to anyone, but I promise you will want them for yourself.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I didn’t take them and I’ve regretted it every day since.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Well, I hope I’ve helped.&nbsp; Good luck with your surgery on monday!&nbsp; Keep me posted on how you are doing.&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Times;">And remember that the first weeks are the toughest mentally, but there is light at the end of the foodless tunnel…promise!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">-Kristen &nbsp;&nbsp;; )</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-87331697443431795692011-10-19T03:48:00.000-04:002011-10-19T03:48:23.178-04:00Wedding dress bliss...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Wedding dress shopping is something I (like every girl) has dreamed about my entire life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>In my frequent job as bridesmaid, I had always helped my friends with the planning of their weddings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And in the process of doing this important job, I would always find little things I knew I wanted in my own wedding that I would tuck into the back of my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">It was a nice perk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">One of those things I found and settled on was my dream wedding dress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It was a Priscilla of Boston.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>A-line…silk taffeta…big skirt…HUGE price tag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>But I never really considered it, because…honestly…I never thought I could fit into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Until now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Since the wedding was less than a year away, I figured I wasn’t being absolutely nuts if I started looking at dresses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>What the heck, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>So I made an appointment and took my mom and Chris’s mom to the local David’s bridal store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; And it was just</span>&nbsp;was awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I remembered the days when I would go with my bride friends to try on bridesmaid dresses and not fit into the samples. The amount of embarrassment at not only the measurements the poor woman had to take, but the actual SIZE dress I had to buy was almost more than I could take. &nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I absolutely wanted to D-I-E.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>(or eat a pizza….you know…whatever made me feel better at the time)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">But last week, I walked around the store and picked up any wedding dress I wanted to try on….and generally…they all zipped right up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It was the best feeling ever…a real confidence booster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I felt like an absolute princess the whole time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>But, although I felt beautiful in almost all of the dresses I put on, none of them were “my dress.” &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">That dress haunted me the whole time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I wanted it…needed it...and of course had to see it on my body.</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">So, I made and appointment at Priscilla's. &nbsp;And once I finally put the dress on, my heart almost stopped.</span><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">It was perfect.</span>&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Well, thank god for my mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span>Because, with some tears…my mother’s deal wielding skills…and the fact that Pricilla’s of Boston had decided to go out of business a few months ago, I squeezed this dress into the budget and&nbsp;got the most beautiful (and most expensive) dress that I will ever put on my body. &nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">That’s right…I got my Priscilla.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">It was the best birthday present a girl could ever ask for. &nbsp;And it literally PAINS me not to put a picture of it on here. &nbsp;I want to share with you all the gorgeousness that is this dress…but I just don’t trust Chris not to peek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>(yes Chris, I know you read this and I don't trust you!)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">So, my lovely readers, you will have to wait for the wedding…just like him. &nbsp;But, it will be totally worth it. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I promise. &nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><!--EndFragment-->Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-90349079135869646842011-10-19T03:36:00.004-04:002011-10-19T04:01:41.943-04:00Thirty...<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Thirty.&nbsp; Seriously…It’s a huge number.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">You know, its funny…I feel like I was way more worried about turning 30 when I was 26 or 27 than I was on my actual birthday.&nbsp; To be perfectly honest, I didn’t feel or look much different that I did the day before. &nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Yes, I check for wrinkles now.&nbsp; Don’t judge.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Chris treated me to a delicious birthday dinner in the north end.&nbsp; I ordered a fantastic brick oven pizza with fresh mozzarella, ricotta, cherry tomatoes, roasted peppers, artichoke hearts, and prosciutto.&nbsp; (and I luckily got to eat it twice more at home the next day!)&nbsp; We even stopped for a cannoli on the walk back to the car.&nbsp; (A little too much sugar? &nbsp;Sure...but it was my birthday and totally worth the heart racing and dizziness afterwards)&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">All in all it was wonderful.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">When we were going to bed Chris asked me if I was happy being 30.&nbsp; I told him I was.&nbsp; But it started a discussion about different things I always thought I would have done by this point in my life…like be married…and have children.&nbsp; Chris reminded me of what I already have accomplished in my life and told me I have plenty of time to still do these other things.&nbsp; And he is totally right.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">But, I told him one of the real things I really wished I had done earlier in my life was to have had this surgery.&nbsp; God knows where I could be now if I had this much strength and the confidence in my early 20s. &nbsp;I mean, I’m shaking my head right now just thinking about it.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Woulda, coulda, shoulda…eh?&nbsp; But…Chris is wise…and after my tangent, said something to me in the way only he does.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Simple.&nbsp; Analytical.&nbsp; Right to the point.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">“But then we may not have met…so I guess everything worked out in the end.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">This is why I love him.&nbsp; Growing up, we had been in the same room before and never come together.&nbsp; There is a reason 29 year-old Kristen met Chris and not 22 year-old Kristen.&nbsp; Do I know exactly why?…no.&nbsp; But someday I may.&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Until then, all I know is that all the experiences I have had in the past 30 years have made me who I am and given me the wonderful life I have today.&nbsp;&nbsp; And I have the whole rest of my life to have different good and bad experiences to make me who I will be.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">A wife?&nbsp; A mother? &nbsp;Best selling author? &nbsp;Sky’s the limit...</span><span style="font-family: Times;">&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">What I do know for sure? &nbsp;30 is certainly going to be my best year yet...And everything will always work out in the end. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;">::wink wink::</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-34083454758636297662011-10-06T01:11:00.000-04:002011-10-06T01:11:14.742-04:00Do you want to be a mermaid...or a whale?I continue to have insomnia. <br /><br />Awesome.<br /><br />So, as I cruise the internet for fantastic wedding ideas, new shopping deals, and try to figure out how to read my newsfeed on "the new Facebook," I came across this post and picture shared by a friend. <br /><br />The message here really touches me and really puts things in perspective as I continue to fear I am not "thin enough." &nbsp;There is nothing wrong with who you are...as long as you are happy and healthy! <br /><br />: )<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br />-Kristen<br /><br />#####################################################<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eGUr7SzKCwg/To03jSX_9SI/AAAAAAAAAXM/wD_pmUiArvM/s1600/320756_2545702681966_1235752135_33215266_1101898257_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eGUr7SzKCwg/To03jSX_9SI/AAAAAAAAAXM/wD_pmUiArvM/s400/320756_2545702681966_1235752135_33215266_1101898257_n.jpg" width="337" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A while back, at the entrance of a gym, there was a picture of a very thin and beautiful woman. The caption was "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"<o:p></o:p></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">The story goes, a woman (of clothing size unknown) answered the following way: <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i>Dear people,&nbsp;</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i>Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, seals, curious humans), they are sexually active and raise their children with great tenderness.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i>They entertain like crazy with dolphins and eat lots of prawns. They swim all day and travel to fantastic places like Patagonia, the Barents Sea or the coral reefs of Polynesia.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i>They sing incredibly well and sometimes even are on cds. They are impressive and dearly loved animals, which everyone defend and admires.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i>Mermaids do not exist.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i>But if they existed, they would line up to see a psychologist because of a problem of split personality: woman or fish?<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i>They would have no sex life and could not bear children.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i>Yes, they would be lovely, but lonely and sad.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i>And, who wants a girl that smells like fish by his side?<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i>Without a doubt, I'd rather be a whale.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i>At a time when the media tells us that only thin is beautiful, I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><i>We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn't enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies.<o:p></o:p></i></div></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><o:p></o:p></div></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: "How amazing am I?!?!</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">(The girl on the picture is French model Tara Lynn)&nbsp;</div><!--EndFragment--></span>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-16811878623183351182011-10-05T06:58:00.000-04:002011-10-05T06:58:27.381-04:00Pinch me...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">In less than 2 weeks, I am going to be 30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Somehow, I haven’t been as worried about it as I though I would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Maybe it’s because I have Chris in my life now…or maybe it’s because I keep hearing that ”30 is the new 20”…but it’s coming whether I like it or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And I feel unexpectedly ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">My life…my personality…basically all of who I am has changed for the better since I’ve had this surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I know I’ve said it before, but this was the best decision of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>And despite the friends and family I may have lost during this process, if I had the choice, I would do it all again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>No question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">When I look back of this journey I chose to take, I never could have imagined I would have ended up here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Honestly, I never thought I would or could ever have been so happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">But I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And it is just so good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I know that who I am and how I live my life has only changed and grown for the better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>But despite all the personal and mental growth I have made, I can honestly say the best thing that has happened to me since my surgery is the fact that I met Chris.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I didn’t believe there was another person on this earth that could be such a perfect match for me as he is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I love him so much, but in a different way than I have ever felt about anyone in my entire life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s just so hard to explain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Having him with me just makes sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I can’t even imagine my life without him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">And, luckily, from now on…I don’t have to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_hd1lGn6wg8/Tow0XaCZJDI/AAAAAAAAAXI/yXGywaPS5rI/s1600/IMAG0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_hd1lGn6wg8/Tow0XaCZJDI/AAAAAAAAAXI/yXGywaPS5rI/s640/IMAG0006.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">That’s right, ladies and gentlemen...last Friday, September 30<sup>th</sup>, this girl got engaged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And the kicker?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It happened exactly one year and 4 days after the <a href="http://gastricallychanged.blogspot.com/2010/09/lookin-for-love.html">“Lookin’ for love”</a> post I wrote when I was feeling so alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Goosebumps?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Yeah…me too…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Since this surgery, my life has been like a dream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Or at least a really cheesy TV movie on “Lifetime.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Girl loses weight…changes life…grows as a person…meets the man of her dreams…he “puts a ring on it”…and they live happily ever after. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>(Book deal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Screen play?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I’m certainly accepting offers…)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I love who I am now and I feel like starting a life with Chris is where exactly I was supposed to end up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Knowing that the rest of my life is going to be spent with him by my side just seems like the perfect finale to this chapter in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Just the perfect place to run the credits and leave everyone feeling happy and comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">But to me, this isn’t the end…it’s just the beginning. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>And everything is just perfect. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Pinch me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-54451970596267822282011-10-05T05:33:00.002-04:002011-10-05T05:40:37.013-04:00Forget Me Not...<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">So, Beth had been haunting me for the whole summer about how the <a href="http://www.tntfitclub.com/">TNT fit club‘s running group</a> was running the “Forget Me Not” 5K road race for Alzheimer’s research…and that I should join them.</span><span style="font-family: Times;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I think I tried to come up with every conceivable reason why I shouldn’t run it. &nbsp;I was working the night before.&nbsp; I was working the night after.&nbsp; I hadn’t trained enough.&nbsp; I would sweat too much.&nbsp; I was scared that I wouldn’t finish.&nbsp; I thought I may actually die.</span><span style="font-family: Times;">&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">But, none of it phased her.&nbsp; Shocking.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">So, when I had the opportunity to switch off work the night before the race, and knew I would at least be able to sleep beforehand, I begrudgingly agreed. &nbsp;Running a road race is something I have secretly wanted to do my entire life.&nbsp; So, Beth finally appealed to the tiny sliver of my “inner runner” and when I said yes I&nbsp;almost immediately felt nauseated.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I have been running with Beth for almost a year now.&nbsp; Sometimes we run for our whole session and sometimes we just run a few miles as a warm up. &nbsp; I love and hate it all at the same time.&nbsp; I love that I physically CAN run.&nbsp; It’s something I have never been able to do…even if I wanted to.&nbsp;&nbsp; But running is hard.&nbsp;&nbsp; And "hard" just plain scares me sometimes.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">So, this past Sunday was race day.&nbsp; I did everything I was supposed to.&nbsp; I ate my carb-ish breakfast 2 hours before.&nbsp; I made my playlist for my iPod.&nbsp; I peed at least 15 times.&nbsp; And before I knew it...it was race time….and there I was…#22 pinned to my shirt….standing in a group of people looking waaaay less nervous than me.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EFhpzBIVdbw/Towj9puTu7I/AAAAAAAAAXE/KRnYrFs7VOo/s1600/300230_2141690899561_1164860967_31973097_507237745_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EFhpzBIVdbw/Towj9puTu7I/AAAAAAAAAXE/KRnYrFs7VOo/s640/300230_2141690899561_1164860967_31973097_507237745_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">As we started, I stuck with Beth for the first 2 miles...afraid to leave her side. &nbsp;But, trying to keep up with her, I lost my concentration...lost the rhythm to my breathing...and nearly thought I was going die.&nbsp; &nbsp;Despite all of that, with tears in my eyes, I kept running.&nbsp; Beth slowed my pace and told me keep going.&nbsp; She told me I could do it...over and over.</span><span style="font-family: Times;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;">And just like always, for some crazy reason, I believed her.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--HnfncINnBY/Towj9hyngZI/AAAAAAAAAXA/hx2iGQsAS08/s1600/296594_2141697219719_1164860967_31973117_1386819288_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--HnfncINnBY/Towj9hyngZI/AAAAAAAAAXA/hx2iGQsAS08/s320/296594_2141697219719_1164860967_31973117_1386819288_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Times;">I didn’t have a goal time to beat.&nbsp; I just wanted to finish the whole race…without stopping…running the whole time.&nbsp; And somehow, I did that…in 34 minutes and 1 second…with Beth’s hand on my back as I crossed the finish line.&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">It was one of the proudest moments of my life.&nbsp; And one I will certainly not forget.&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-28133217218269110052011-10-05T05:13:00.004-04:002011-10-05T05:47:14.798-04:00Summer 2011<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Hi...<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Remember me?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">With the way my life has been going, I not only find it hard to find the time to write…but I find it harder to come up with interesting things to say.&nbsp; I wonder to myself if you guys are really interested in hearing me drone on about the details of my life, despite the fact that most of what I have to say is not “gastric bypass” related.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">But today I got this in my e-mail:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JtOXRVJMKUM/TowZa_tRnZI/AAAAAAAAAWg/bj-e24wEPf4/s1600/gb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JtOXRVJMKUM/TowZa_tRnZI/AAAAAAAAAWg/bj-e24wEPf4/s640/gb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">After reading this, I felt so guilty. &nbsp;So, while trying to sleep tonight, I just laid there awake with words tumbling around in my head…just inspired to write.&nbsp;&nbsp; And my body appears to not let me sleep until I take care of this.&nbsp; So here we are. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Let me start by getting you up to speed to what has lived up to be the best summer of my life.&nbsp; &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_DS7-LHI3Q4/TowbOTqU_SI/AAAAAAAAAWw/ZdSuv0CDIqY/s1600/270513_10150233411917694_549272693_7890856_3594397_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_DS7-LHI3Q4/TowbOTqU_SI/AAAAAAAAAWw/ZdSuv0CDIqY/s200/270513_10150233411917694_549272693_7890856_3594397_n.jpg" width="132" /></a><span style="font-family: Times;">This June, Chris and I vacationed in Port St. Lucie, FL…or as I like to refer to it “Golf Central, USA.”&nbsp; My fantastically awesome parents gave us a week at their time share to use and we had an amazing time!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I know…they totally rule.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I was so excited that Chris could play golf...a&nbsp;lot of golf.&nbsp; Him being gone for 4 hours in the morning gave me my own time to spend at the spa getting massaged and hanging out in my "bought in the regular sized section" swimsuit. &nbsp;Or should I say "swimsuits"...since I did buy 3 this year!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But, I also did something pretty unexpected.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3M7kfwpvSp0/TowfEygqw5I/AAAAAAAAAW4/6wa8izwTVfQ/s1600/IMAG0229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3M7kfwpvSp0/TowfEygqw5I/AAAAAAAAAW4/6wa8izwTVfQ/s200/IMAG0229.jpg" width="119" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is me, collapsed<br />&nbsp;after running 3miles <br />for the first time <br />EVER! &nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I worked out on my vacation.&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Yup.&nbsp; This girl brought her gym clothes and running shoes to Florida…and used them!&nbsp; In fact, running there was so much fun I ran 3 miles….twice.&nbsp;&nbsp; Even now, thinking about it, I chuckle.&nbsp; Sometimes seeing how my personality has totally changed really boggles my mind.&nbsp; It’s awesome.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XEk4wMGjxPQ/TowbNwP4uJI/AAAAAAAAAWs/x4K476VfNL0/s1600/270402_10150233407942694_549272693_7890798_7616939_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XEk4wMGjxPQ/TowbNwP4uJI/AAAAAAAAAWs/x4K476VfNL0/s200/270402_10150233407942694_549272693_7890798_7616939_n.jpg" width="132" /></a><span style="font-family: Times;">Besides hanging out in Port St. Lucie, we also spent a couple of days at the happiest place on earth…Disney World!&nbsp; I absolutely loved it….and Chris certainly indulged my child-like excitement.&nbsp; There is just something about being in love at Disney.&nbsp; It’s totally cliché and sappy but, I felt like a princess the whole time.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">It was a fantastic summer.&nbsp; I continue to eat like a normal person and actually have been able to eat more than ever, recently.&nbsp; For the first time in over a year I have actually had to be conscious of what I put in my mouth for fear of gaining weight.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sjlVSF6Cd7g/TowbNutKFAI/AAAAAAAAAWo/raULmypnqdY/s1600/267639_10150233411297694_549272693_7890848_6707827_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sjlVSF6Cd7g/TowbNutKFAI/AAAAAAAAAWo/raULmypnqdY/s320/267639_10150233411297694_549272693_7890848_6707827_n.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Times;">July 18<sup>th</sup>, I was 18 months post-op.&nbsp; The doctor told me that this is the point in your recovery where you are on your own.&nbsp; The surgery is no longer causing you to drop pounds for no reason and it’s up to you to stay at your goal weight.&nbsp; Luckily for me,&nbsp;I remain at a comfortable 177-181lbs.&nbsp; I have watch what I eat because if I am naughty, I know will, as I often say, “dump so hard.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I continue to work out on a regular basis.&nbsp; This summer, I worked really hard on transitioning on motivating myself to get to the gym on my own at least once a week.&nbsp; As in…by myself.&nbsp; No Beth.&nbsp; No formulated program.&nbsp; Just me and my own little brain trying to figure everything out. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I don’t know why I am so freaking scared of being at the gym without Beth.&nbsp; I know most of it is because I just miss seeing her and chatting about life, but I still think I have some PTSD from high school gym class.&nbsp; Becoming an “independent exerciser” is an important part of my metamophasis as a person.&nbsp; But it didn’t make it any easier to start.&nbsp; When I told her how nervous I was about the fact that people might be looking at me while I was there, she said something that was completely unexpected.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gLekgQB-TQc/TowdSP-sLaI/AAAAAAAAAW0/3JNPp6POP8I/s1600/264392_10150233412922694_549272693_7890871_6099066_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gLekgQB-TQc/TowdSP-sLaI/AAAAAAAAAW0/3JNPp6POP8I/s200/264392_10150233412922694_549272693_7890871_6099066_n.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: Times;">“Really, Kristen?….I mean, who do you think you are?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">This really caught me off guard and&nbsp;I was shocked. &nbsp;But she continued to explain that people go to the gym to work-out and no one really cares what I’m doing there.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">And she was so right.</span><span style="font-family: Times;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I haven’t felt bad being alone at the gym since. &nbsp;Now, the only hard part is getting motivated enough to get out of my warm bed at 8am.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;We’re still working on that...</div><div style="border-bottom: double windowtext 6.75pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: thin-thick-thin-medium-gap windowtext 6.75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: thin-thick-thin-medium-gap windowtext 6.75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><br /></div></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-90934981374374221482011-06-20T16:15:00.002-04:002011-06-20T17:37:58.833-04:00Lost and Found<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Hey y’all…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I know I know….I let my blog go dormant for a while.&nbsp; This “being in love” thing has really started to rule my life.&nbsp; But, honestly, I couldn’t be happier…and doing all those “lovey dovey” relationship type things with Chris has taken up so much time…but in SUCH a good way.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">It’s awesome.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Anywhoo, I was on my computer today and found a half written blog that I never finished from Easter.&nbsp; I thought finishing and posting it would be the best was to revive this blog and get myself back on track.&nbsp; So stay tuned…there is WAY more to come…<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Xoxo<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Kristen<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">**********************<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Easter&nbsp;</span></b></o:p></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2011...Meeting the families!</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">When I was a little girl…oh, maybe 10 years old…my mother took my sister and me aside and told us that the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy retired.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I’m totally not even kidding.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">So, I haven’t had an Easter basket since then.&nbsp; And I never really cared because candy wasn’t my thing anyways.&nbsp; I was more excited about the ham and mac and cheese.&nbsp; Which is a perfect example of how I got into this situation in the first place…but I digress… <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />This year, I was fortunate enough to have Chris’ parents, grandfather, sister (Michelle) and her boyfriend (James) over to my house a few days before Easter for dinner.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chris cooked some delicious food, we drank more wine than we should have, and decorated Easter eggs while laughing up a storm.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was so awesome.</span></span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NviqP-TSOsA/Tf-giIx84PI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/FiGOszZj00Q/s1600/100_1583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NviqP-TSOsA/Tf-giIx84PI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/FiGOszZj00Q/s400/100_1583.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our artwork!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gjxGzq0BErU/Tf-f6TSYWAI/AAAAAAAAAWI/tbD1iXdCisU/s1600/100_1574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gjxGzq0BErU/Tf-f6TSYWAI/AAAAAAAAAWI/tbD1iXdCisU/s200/100_1574.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My egg<br />So cute, right?</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-emGZL1z-HZA/Tf-gt3lolCI/AAAAAAAAAWY/OotvZRUMntc/s1600/100_1569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-emGZL1z-HZA/Tf-gt3lolCI/AAAAAAAAAWY/OotvZRUMntc/s200/100_1569.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris' egg<br />I swear, he did that on his own! &nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span>Also, for the first time in almost 20 years, I was given an Easter basket, thanks to Chris' mom, Ann.&nbsp; (Mostly sugar free, of course…) &nbsp;</span>Seriously, I love Chris’ mom....and&nbsp;I legit pray on a regular basis that this woman becomes my mother-in-law someday.</div><br />Anyway, I ended up with about a million hard-boiled eggs in my fridge.&nbsp; Something I haven’t made in a really long time.&nbsp; And it really reminded me about what a great snack they were when I first started eating more solid foods post op.<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I hated the yolks, but I loved an egg white with a little salt and pepper sprinkled on it for breakfast.&nbsp; They are a super great source of protein and were a good change from eating oatmeal….every….single….day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">This time I had them as snacks and cut up on salads.&nbsp; It was delicious and made me feel way healthier about eating an occasional Resse’s peanut butter egg!&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"></span>We ate the actual Easter &nbsp;dinner at my parent's house and then went to meet Chris' family for dessert. &nbsp;I had butterflies the entire time, but all of the introductions went well and, like I said, Chris' family is just phenomenal!<span style="font-family: Times;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VCP-jkUY7Ts/Tf-gXWkFnJI/AAAAAAAAAWM/MRgenIdX_Us/s1600/114_0827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VCP-jkUY7Ts/Tf-gXWkFnJI/AAAAAAAAAWM/MRgenIdX_Us/s640/114_0827.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back row: Chris, Uncle Bill, Jillian, Mike<br />Front row: Me, Mom, Dad</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Personally, I think my acceptance had a lot to do with the chocolate chip cookie brownies I brought, but who knows... (they are a delicious and easy dessert...but soooo not post-op friendly! &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Times;">Seriously, beware. &nbsp;They are d</span>ump central. ) &nbsp;Check out the <a href="http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-brownies/eed4b2ac-42b3-4084-93ca-8a5fcda2a29c">recipe</a>! &nbsp;FYI...I did not frost them and they were just fine. &nbsp;I mean....holy extra calories, Batman!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So post-op life is grand. &nbsp;I wish I knew a year ago that my life was going to be this good. &nbsp;It would have made my recovery a lot easier to take, mentally. &nbsp;Just remember, post-op buddies....there IS a light at the end of this "foodless" tunnel! &nbsp;I promise!&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KkMQDDpx0eQ/Tf-fd3u-gDI/AAAAAAAAAWA/FfCLHZG2E3M/s1600/Easter+2011+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KkMQDDpx0eQ/Tf-fd3u-gDI/AAAAAAAAAWA/FfCLHZG2E3M/s320/Easter+2011+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-85574132066014026942011-04-29T10:19:00.000-04:002011-04-29T10:19:02.738-04:00Gastric bypass on Chronicle....This is a pretty cool story that was aired on Chronicle a few weeks ago about a woman's 10 month gastric bypass recovery. &nbsp;Check it out!<br /><br />"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In high school, Colleen Michaels-Walsh weighed 550 pounds. Over the succeeding years she lost and gained weight, jeopardizing her health, her work life, and worrying her family. Finally, she decided to take a drastic measure: gastric bypass surgery. Over the last ten months, Chronicle followed her progress as she attempted to regain control of her life; tonight, Anthony Everett tells her story." -Chronicle website</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_FU2gYbHsGM" width="425"></iframe>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-15668015854203000632011-04-28T11:59:00.001-04:002011-04-28T17:00:48.322-04:00Making goals...<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">In the essay I had to write to be accepted into the gastric bypass center, they asked you why you wanted to have this surgery.&nbsp; There were a lot of really good things I could have written to answer this simple question.&nbsp; Improving my heath…looking better…becoming more active.&nbsp; Instead, I just wrote the first thing that popped into my head.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I wanted to fit into the seats at Fenway.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Despite my outward “girly girl” appearance, I enjoy watching (NOT playing) sports.&nbsp; I was brought up watching lots of games with my dad and now that I’m older, going to games has become one of my favorite things to do….when I can afford it.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">But, even though I enjoyed it, I can remember the anxiety that I felt about one simple thing.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">The seats.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YWaET2Y27_U/TbmMlSkN1CI/AAAAAAAAAV4/LpKpAAdWzpM/s1600/100_1555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YWaET2Y27_U/TbmMlSkN1CI/AAAAAAAAAV4/LpKpAAdWzpM/s320/100_1555.JPG" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PdHfQpyaNgk/TbmMiETHgXI/AAAAAAAAAVs/iIFi0zFvcY0/s1600/100_1545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PdHfQpyaNgk/TbmMiETHgXI/AAAAAAAAAVs/iIFi0zFvcY0/s200/100_1545.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Times;">The constant wondering if my butt was going fit in and not bust out of the sides of the seat was just horrible.&nbsp;&nbsp; Even when I could squeeze my ginormous behind in there, I was extremely uncomfortable and the anxiety about it could almost ruin my whole time.&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Well, a few weeks ago, Chris took me to a Bruins hockey game at the Bank North Garden in Boston.&nbsp; It was the first time I had been to a sporting event since my surgery and I was really excited. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">We had a quick pizza dinner before we went in.&nbsp; This was naughty, I know, but I only ate a piece and a half of pizza and was SO full…(instead of the whole pie I used to be able to eat!)&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">When we went inside and sat down, I was surprised by how comfortable I was….There was space on both sides of my butt and I could even cross my legs.&nbsp; It was the first time I had a “gastric bypass moment” in a REALLY long time and it really made me smile.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hNiDoDm-K9I/TbmMjEKYnbI/AAAAAAAAAVw/gSgH8jx9zCA/s1600/100_1547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hNiDoDm-K9I/TbmMjEKYnbI/AAAAAAAAAVw/gSgH8jx9zCA/s640/100_1547.JPG" width="422" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Even though it rained and I looked like a wet dog that night, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.&nbsp; It was fun to see the game…but it was just as fun to know I made some of my own "goals" that night, as well!&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-4901627910280692802011-03-31T01:58:00.001-04:002011-04-01T19:19:50.426-04:00Gastric bipass and diabetes...So I was shopping, the other day and ended up at the nail salon.&nbsp; I was only there for a minute, but when I stepped in, I saw part of this clip on the ABC news.&nbsp; And as a nurse I was amazed.&nbsp; <br /><br />I have watched patients (and loved ones) suffer and die from complications related to diabetes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Seeing&nbsp;how much a gastric bipass can help is so exciting because&nbsp;I'm sure it can save so many people.&nbsp; <br /><br />Take a peek at the clip if you have time!&nbsp; <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://feeds.abcnews.com/abcnews/healthheadlines"><img border="0" height="0" src="http://c.gigcount.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEzMDE1NTA2NDYwNjUmcHQ9MTMwMTU1MDY2NjkwMyZwPTEyNTg*MTEmZD1BQkNOZXdzX1NGUF9Mb2NrZV9FbWJlZCZn/PTImbz*zYWFhNDdiMmI1NWE*OGJhOGJiODZlYTE2ZDY1YzQ3OSZvZj*w.gif" style="height: 0px; visibility: hidden; width: 0px;" width="0" /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,124,0" height="278" id="ABCESNWID" width="344"><param name="movie" value="http://abcnews.go.com/assets/player/walt2.6/flash/SFP_Walt_2_65.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="all" /><param name="flashvars" value="configUrl=http://abcnews.go.com/video/sfp/embedPlayerConfig&amp;configId=406732&amp;clipId=13245090&amp;showId=13241219&amp;gig_lt=1301550646065&amp;gig_pt=1301550666903&amp;gig_g=2" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed src="http://abcnews.go.com/assets/player/walt2.6/flash/SFP_Walt_2_65.swf" quality="high" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all" allowfullscreen="true" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="344" height="278" flashvars="configUrl=http://abcnews.go.com/video/sfp/embedPlayerConfig&amp;configId=406732&amp;clipId=13245090&amp;showId=13241219&amp;gig_lt=1301550646065&amp;gig_pt=1301550666903&amp;gig_g=2" name="ABCESNWID"></embed></object></a>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-82301320679156005142011-03-15T20:48:00.006-04:002011-03-15T21:38:26.839-04:00Answers for Chrissi...The Fact that people find my story interesting still makes me feel a little weird.<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Don’t get me wrong, though! &nbsp;I’m glad that what I’ve done or what I’ve said has helped or inspired people to go make positive change in their lifestyle.&nbsp; The effect I have apparently had on people has been a consequence of having this surgery that I never expected. &nbsp; But, when I really think about all the people who I don't know, who know all about me...well...it just makes me chuckle. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">That being said, I LOVE getting comments from you guys...telling me what you are doing or asking me questions.&nbsp; It really makes me feel like I am doing this for a reason…and keeps me writing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">So, I guess this is another reminder to feel free to ask me questions, or leave me comments...and I will always do my best to try and help you out!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Anyway, this is a comment that was left on my last entry by Chrissi. &nbsp;Since she posted these questions publicly and they may be relevant to other curious readers, I figured it would be OK to answer her questions here. &nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">***********************</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Hi Kristen.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Thank you for sharing your experiences. My husband and I enjoy reading your blog. I've been doing a fair amount of research on the surgery an I feel your blog has given just what I was looking for....information from a real person I can relate to about the surgery.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">My husband's doctor is recommending the surgery and he will be meeting with the psychologists soon.. Also, my doctor has been recommending me to see a nutritionist and I think the surgery might be in my future too. I am nervous because it is major surgery, as you know and I sometime find that I dwell on the complications more than I should.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">I am sure you must get a lot of requests for information. Would it be possible for you to share the name of your surgeon? Also, did you meet with more than one surgeon before making your decision on who would do the surgery? How long was the process from the doctors/insurance ok until you had the actual surgery? I know you are busy with your life. Congratulations, you look amazing. I don't think I mentioned that yet.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">&nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">I would appreciate any information you are willing to provide me with.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Thanks!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">~C</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;">************************</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Chrissi-</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I had my surgery done at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. &nbsp;Check out the Weight Loss Center's" website <a href="http://www.bidmc.org/CentersandDepartments/Departments/Surgery/WeightLossSurgery.aspx">here.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Times;"></span>My surgeon's name is Dr. <a href="http://www.bidmc.org/CentersandDepartments/Departments/Surgery/WeightLossSurgery/MeettheTeam/BariatricSurgeons.aspx">Benjamin Schneider</a>, but there are a few surgeons @ BIDMC that perform bariatric surgery. &nbsp;He was the only surgeon I met with before my surgery and because I liked him so much, I didn't feel the need to meet with anyone else. &nbsp;Dr. Schneider was phenomenal and (if you live in the Boston area) I would recommend him 100%. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">The process to schedule my surgery from start to finish took a few months. &nbsp;(I got my referral in October, scheduled my surgery in January, and had my surgery in February.) &nbsp;The first thing I had to do was to go to my primary care physician to get a referral to the weight lost center. &nbsp;There were then several appointments with medical doctors, nutritionists, social workers, and psychologists. &nbsp;Once I was approved by all of these people, I then made an appointment with the surgeon. &nbsp; As soon as he approved me, I scheduled my surgery. &nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">In the beginning of the process, the center gives you a list of questions to ask your insurance company to see if you qualify and to find out how much of your surgery will be covered. &nbsp;The entire cost of my surgery was covered, minus some doctor visit co-pays and a one time fee required by the center. &nbsp;(I called it the "make sure you are serious" fee, but they said it covered costs of things not reimbursed by insurance. &nbsp;It was 400-500$.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Depending on your insurance your timing and coverage may be different. &nbsp;The center seemed to know the different methods with the different insurance companies. &nbsp;I was actually shocked at how easy it was.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I hope this helps! &nbsp;Thanks for the compliments and good luck on your journey. &nbsp;I hope you will keep me posted on how it goes! &nbsp;: )</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">-Kristen</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-73074562131659404542011-03-07T19:05:00.001-05:002011-03-08T11:31:09.559-05:00Confessions of a skinny girl...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hiw9CW7RXgE/TXVyCXUeL7I/AAAAAAAAAVo/IvoQib00E8Y/s1600/kiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hiw9CW7RXgE/TXVyCXUeL7I/AAAAAAAAAVo/IvoQib00E8Y/s640/kiss.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I know a lot of people have been wondering why I haven’t been writing…asking me if falling in love has replaced my desire to write.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Well, yes…I do have less free time on my hands now that Chris is in my life.&nbsp; But this is not the main reason I haven’t written in awhile.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Basically, I’ve been bad.&nbsp; And I didn’t want to tell everyone about it.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">But, in order to try and fix it, I think I need to write about what's been going on….so here we go.&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">For the past 4-5 months or so, I really haven’t had to worry too much about “what” I ate.&nbsp; I could pretty much eat anything I wanted until I was full….which generally didn’t take very long.&nbsp; I was always losing weight…no matter what.&nbsp; But over the past 8 weeks or so, I’ve been dealing with something that has me really worried. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Not only can I eat way more than I’m used to….for the first time in over a year, I have actually gained weight.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">9 horrifying pounds.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I think a lot of it has to with my new relationship with Chris.&nbsp; Between the both of us, we have about a million friends and family.&nbsp; And I feel like every time I meet someone new, it involves dinner and a bottle of wine. &nbsp;It all adds up…mainly on my ass.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Most of the time, when it’s just us, we do try to eat at home with Chris cooking dinner.&nbsp;&nbsp;And he really does cook some delicious, healthy meals. &nbsp;But for me, this is completely different than my usual lean cuisine situation where I just eat everything in the little plastic dish and I’m done.&nbsp; Since I really can eat more now, portion control has become a problem.&nbsp; It often surprises me about how much I can actually eat now, if I really try.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Another major problem is grazing.&nbsp; I have reassumed this horrible habit and it frustrates me so much.&nbsp; I picked it up at work, where grazing is a way of survival.&nbsp; We have a countertop there that I have to walk by…mmm…maybe 100 times a night.&nbsp; And we all like to cover this countertop with horrible (although delicious) snacks.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Chips, candy, cookies, brownies, cheese, crackers…it’s all there.&nbsp; And when you are running around without time to sit for a proper meal (while also trying to stay awake all night) you eat what’s fast or you drown.&nbsp; So I eat it….one small handful at a time.&nbsp;&nbsp;It’s just not good at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I have also been naughty about taking my vitamins and at my last doctor’s appointment, my levels were so low that they basically doubled my prescriptions.&nbsp; Yikes.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">The good news?&nbsp; I still go to the gym religiously.&nbsp; But I can feel the difference in how I’m working out with how I’m eating.&nbsp; Running is so much harder than it used to be and I really have to fight myself to stay on the treadmill for the 2 miles that I’m supposed to.&nbsp; I know it’s how I’m eating…and so does Beth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">So…basically…I’m scared shitless.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I was talking to my cousin about just this thing the other day.&nbsp; Now that he can eat more food, he is scared too.&nbsp; I am reassured by this…knowing that I’m not the only one to feel this way.&nbsp; Gaining a little weight back is a normal part of this process, but some people can go further than that, gaining all of their weight back.&nbsp; And that is what frightens me.&nbsp; I’ve worked too hard to get to where I am right now…and I am so scared I will lose it all.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I absolutely refuse to let this happen.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">So, what’s my new plan?&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Well,&nbsp; I decided to cut out almost all of my alcohol intake.&nbsp; I lived for almost a year without it and I survived. &nbsp;These are calories that I just don’t need….and I’m pretty sure I won’t miss.&nbsp;&nbsp; There is really no need to drink when I am at home, so&nbsp;I’m keeping alcohol just for special social situations …and I’m just fine with that.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I have also resumed not eating and drinking at the same time.&nbsp; When you eat and drink at the same time, food apparently washes through your pouch faster…making you hungry sooner.&nbsp; So I’m nipping this one in the butt right away…and (unless I’m eating something really spicy) I hardly ever notice.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Both Chris and I have decided to try and eat better.&nbsp; I’ve been trying to pick healthier options when we are out at restaurants.&nbsp; He already cooks so healthy at home, but I talked to him about the portion control isue that I’m dealing with right now.&nbsp; He is going to try and help by not making and plating so much food for me.&nbsp;&nbsp;I think this will be really helpful.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">The hardest part is going to be the grazing…mostly at work.&nbsp;&nbsp;Although I do graze a bit at home, the food that I have here is really controlled and rarely bad for me.&nbsp; But at work, it is a completely different story.&nbsp; This is going to take some serious will power.&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Basically, I need to learn that I can’t feel full all the time.&nbsp; I need to train my body to accept feeling a little hungry sometimes.&nbsp; And when I do need to snack, it NEEDS to be on healthy things...and if there are no healthy options, I just can't snack at all.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I’ve dealt with some seriously harder things than this throughout the past year and I made it.&nbsp;&nbsp; So far I’ve gotten a couple of these “relationship pounds” off, but I still have a way to go.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>I know I can do this. &nbsp;And now that I "confessed" about it, I do feel a lot better. &nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The new Kristen is going to embrace will power. &nbsp;Let's see how she does. &nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-10976786444809914872011-02-18T10:09:00.003-05:002011-10-05T05:22:25.019-04:00One year later....My surgery was on February 17, 2010. &nbsp;A year ago, yesterday. <br /><br />A year ago today I was just waking up in my hospital bed from surgery the day before.&nbsp; My stomach was killing me and I was thirsty. &nbsp;I began my day staring down a medicine cup of water that I was required to drink in one hour.&nbsp; It may have well been a bathtub full. <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times;">My yearlong battle with food was just beginning and I was legitimately scared shitless.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: Times;">There have been 365 days between then and now.&nbsp; And I almost can’t believe how fast it has gone by. &nbsp;Over the past year, I remember frequently questioning myself…wondering if I had made the right decision.&nbsp; &nbsp;Looking back now, I can honestly say that I did.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">As of this morning,&nbsp;my BMI is 26. &nbsp;I have lost 129 pounds and I currently weigh 172 pounds. (at my lowest....I'm sort of playing with a few extra "relationship pounds" at the moment!) &nbsp;I am physically fit, still working out 3 times a week and staying motivated to do so.&nbsp; I also can eat pretty much anything….just in moderation.&nbsp; There really isn’t anything I feel like I can’t try or do.&nbsp; &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">My life has changed for the better.&nbsp; I discovered that what people think of me is not nearly as important as what I think of myself.&nbsp; For the first time, I’ve found that I really love and accept myself for who I am…inside and out.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I’ve also dealt with challenges I never expected.&nbsp; Some of my friends and family have become distant or stopped communicating with me altogether. &nbsp;But through all this, I was pleasantly surprised with the people I discovered that I could truly depend on. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">In the last Chinese food meal I ate before my surgery, my fortune cookie read: “a goal is a dream with a deadline.” &nbsp;Ever since then, I’ve kept this little piece of advice tacked up on my refrigerator because it rang so true to me. &nbsp; When I started this process, I turned my dream of living a happy healthy lifestyle into a goal. &nbsp;And today, I've reached that deadline and achieved that goal in ways I could have never imagined. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I know I have made all of you proud this year, but most importantly, I have made myself proud.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;">Today, I feel like I can do just about anything, so world, bring it on…I’m so ready.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-4087322806539297622011-02-15T10:05:00.003-05:002011-02-15T10:36:43.953-05:00Will you be my Valentine?Like every other “single” person on the planet, I’ve always hated Valentine’s Day.<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Generally, I would request to be at work….mostly for my own safety.&nbsp; Being there distracted me from all that Hallmark crap that made this lonely girl in her late 20s suicidal.&nbsp;&nbsp;(In fact, last year's Valentine's Day was the last night I worked before I had my surgery 3 days later.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">It’s not that I didn’t like the sentiment that valentine's day is supposed to represent.&nbsp; I mean, how can you dislike a holiday that encourages people to show love for each other!?!?&nbsp; I just hated the fact that it reminded me that didn’t have a boyfriend.&nbsp; For 24 long and painful hours.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Don’t get me wrong, though.&nbsp; I am loved!&nbsp; I would get Valentine's Day flowers from my godson, Nicholas, who for the past 3 years has been my designated valentine.&nbsp; Sometimes, I would get cards and e-mails form friends and family telling me how love was “just around the corner.”&nbsp; It was sweet, but never completely filled the void for me.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">You see, I have never had a “real,” full on, grown–up Valentine’s Day.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ever. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">As a bigger person, I didn't think anyone found me attractive. &nbsp;I always assumed that people were judging me by my weight from the very first time they saw me.&nbsp; I never ever expected anyone to want to to get to know me for who I was on the inside.&nbsp; And, as much as I thought that I was “out there” in the dating world, I now realize that I really wasn’t.&nbsp; Looking back, I can see that it was mostly my insecurities that kept me single.&nbsp;&nbsp;Or (since I felt like I should be happy with whomever would take a second glance at me) kept me “pseudo-dating” creeps.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Heartbreaking.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">But, I think that over the past year I have gained so much self-confidence that I was finally ready to be in a healthy relationship.&nbsp; And, just as I found myself really ready, I found someone as wonderful as Chris. &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Hit the jackpot on my first try?&nbsp; I sure did.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">He’s awesome, you guys.&nbsp; Just awesome. &nbsp;</span>I could not have mapped out a more perfect person for me to be with.&nbsp; He is also 29, a teacher to troubled teenagers, and loves the History Channel…just as much as this dork right here.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">He’s tall, handsome, and has just the dreamiest blue-grey eyes I have ever seen.&nbsp; On several occasions when we are talking at dinner, I find myself swimming in them and looking like an idiot.&nbsp; I don’t think he has noticed.&nbsp; (Until now because he’ll probably read this…)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">He loves to cook…healthy! &nbsp;I totally feared the “eating out constantly” relationship style, but he loves to come to my house, pour me a glass of wine, and make me dinner.&nbsp; And people in his family have had the gastric bypass, so he totally gets that whole situation. &nbsp;</span>It's so awesome because I’m never nervous about what he makes or how to eat in front of him. &nbsp;So,&nbsp;while dating, we both can remain on our respective diets…mostly. &nbsp;(I mean, everyone has to have a "love" brownie every once in awhile!)&nbsp;&nbsp;But we understand and support each other.&nbsp; It's just perfect. &nbsp; &nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">You guys, I’m falling hard for him.&nbsp; We adore each other and, although I can’t say where things will end up, I’m pretty sure I’m going to be with him for a long, long time.&nbsp; &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">My life is becoming everything I’ve ever wanted it to be.&nbsp; I’m happy.&nbsp; I’m healthy.&nbsp; And for the first time ever, I was somebody’s valentine. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;">(A</span>nd in case you were wondering, it was just as fantastic as I thought it would be…&lt;3...)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RuusNISP7-4/TVqV34gkeNI/AAAAAAAAAVk/bidiQd3s0uk/s1600/100_1495_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RuusNISP7-4/TVqV34gkeNI/AAAAAAAAAVk/bidiQd3s0uk/s640/100_1495_1.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris and Kristen...Valentine's Day...2011</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-40024026923532375712011-02-01T20:43:00.001-05:002011-02-01T20:52:29.991-05:00"You're still fat".....<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I love when people comment on my blog.&nbsp;&nbsp; It’s just the coolest thing ever. &nbsp;</span>Every time one of you comments on here, I get sent an e-mail.&nbsp; And I literally get friggin' giddy every time I see one.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Last Sunday, I was at a party with some old friends. &nbsp;(AND my new boyfriend, Chris...but more on him later!) &nbsp;&nbsp;As I casually checked my e-mail on my phone, I noticed that someone commented on my blog.&nbsp;&nbsp;And randomly it was on <a href="http://gastricallychanged.blogspot.com/2010/06/becoming-bathing-beauty.html">this one</a>, from last June, where I wrote about my first bathing suit shopping experience “post-op.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I was excited, so I quickly opened it and this is what I saw:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TUiz2SzfLxI/AAAAAAAAAVg/eeILY11L0lU/s1600/blog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TUiz2SzfLxI/AAAAAAAAAVg/eeILY11L0lU/s640/blog2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Wow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">All the insecurities and frustrations that the “fat girl” inside of me used to feel all the time came rushing back with those three little words.&nbsp; I lost my breath.&nbsp; My heart started to race.&nbsp; And I didn’t quite know what to do.&nbsp; So, I pulled myself together. &nbsp;I put my phone away, poured myself another glass of wine, and went back to the party….deciding to continue to have a good time and not think about it again until we left.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I think that when you write a blog and open your thoughts to the public, you have to be prepared for criticism.&nbsp; I have been and have dealt with it pretty well, &nbsp;not only on here, but in person as well.&nbsp; Up until now, this criticism has been constructive…and polite.&nbsp; So, I guess this comment just threw me for a loop.&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">But only for about 3 seconds. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Sure, I was bigger in that post than I am now, but at that point in my recovery, I had worked really hard to get into that bathing suit.&nbsp; I was proud of myself.&nbsp; And I refuse to let “Anonymous” make me feel anything less. &nbsp;Certainly not with those three little words. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Was I fat back then? Maybe.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Am I "still" fat?&nbsp; No, I don’t think so.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Today, I am happy, healthy, and think I look really good in “skinny jeans.”&nbsp; I weight 172lbs….and have lost 129lbs.&nbsp; I wear a size 8-10…from a size 24-26.&nbsp; I work out 3 days a week and even though I can eat almost anything, I’m still really careful.&nbsp; No one can take this away from me. &nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">When I got in the car after leaving the party, I talked to Chris about what happened.&nbsp; After reassuring me that I was indeed beautiful, he said something that made a lot of sense.&nbsp; “Some people are just stupid…and you can’t fix stupid.”&nbsp; He’s just the greatest.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">So, Anonymous…thank you for your comment.&nbsp; It made me realize that, although I am still insecure at times, I have come a long way and I am not as constantly worried about what the world thinks of me.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is a huge step forward for me, so I am even more proud of myself. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">You think I’m “still fat”...Good for you.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I think I’m fabulous...inside AND out.&nbsp; We’ll just have to agree to disagree.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-76503642509575337422011-01-23T16:13:00.000-05:002011-01-23T16:13:48.734-05:00Before and After...Boston.com!Hey guys! &nbsp;A few days ago, I submitted my "before and after" photos on boston.com&nbsp;<a href="http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/specials/your_weight_loss_photos/">here</a>! <br /><br />When I was deciding about weight loss surgery, "before and after" photos were always such a motivator for me. &nbsp;I remember searching through websites and articles before I had my surgery just hoping and dreaming I could have that kind of success. &nbsp;Now I'm so proud with what I've done and that I can possibly inspire others to it, too. <br /><br />I know some of you have also had some weight loss success. &nbsp;You should be proud and <a href="http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/specials/your_weight_loss_photos/">submit your&nbsp;pictures</a>, too! And, if you are just surfing around, starting to think about losing weight or weight loss surgery, you should take a look at it, as well. <br /><br />You never know. &nbsp;Maybe you'll be inspired... ; )<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TTyY4LrS4LI/AAAAAAAAAVY/UZzW_oZYL98/s1600/before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TTyY4LrS4LI/AAAAAAAAAVY/UZzW_oZYL98/s400/before.jpg" width="292" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TTyY3s7JJGI/AAAAAAAAAVU/6WKDDrAIBB0/s1600/after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TTyY3s7JJGI/AAAAAAAAAVU/6WKDDrAIBB0/s400/after.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-21149700583442973172011-01-23T15:34:00.001-05:002011-01-23T18:22:36.021-05:00DIY: Gastric Bipass?Have you guys heard about this?!?!?<br /><br />A NJ based medical supply company started selling a "do it yourself" gastric bipass kit on Amazon.com! &nbsp;As soon as it hit the news, I stared getting posts on my Facebook wall about it. &nbsp;Although horrified, I kind of thought it was a joke...I mean, really? &nbsp;Do people think this is something that is OK? <br /><br />Then I saw this:<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="356" id="flashObj" width="440"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&amp;isUI=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=754868290001&amp;playerID=16977198001&amp;playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAA6piHY~,DqRT40XOAr8wI0s0AlLx8-XNKKxaCNBM&amp;domain=embed&amp;dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&amp;isUI=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=754868290001&amp;playerID=16977198001&amp;playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAA6piHY~,DqRT40XOAr8wI0s0AlLx8-XNKKxaCNBM&amp;domain=embed&amp;dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="440" height="356" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object><br /><br />Finding out that this was a real thing was awful. &nbsp;I honestly can't believe a medical company can be so reckless, while also playing on the emotions of people looking to have this surgery who may not be able to afford it otherwise. &nbsp;Putting a kit like this is in the general public's hands is just unsafe and totally irresponsible!<br /><br />So, the moral of the story....you shouldn't do your own gastric bipass, or any other surgical procedure, at home....no matter what kind of deal you get on Amazon.com! <br /><br />Good grief...Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-78840363104924668482011-01-13T17:09:00.001-05:002011-01-13T17:44:51.940-05:00My crazy life...You may be asking where I have been.&nbsp; Well, there are a couple of answers to that.<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">First off, as the one-year anniversary of my surgery quickly approaches, my life has become less centered on my surgery.&nbsp; I eat how I eat, I work out regularly, and every once and a while something strikes me as interesting.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">That is when I write.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;">Or at least jot it down to write about later.&nbsp;&nbsp;This system is&nbsp;good and bad, but now that the stress of the holidays is over, hopefully I should be able to focus.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the next few weeks, I'm really hoping to be able</span>&nbsp;to write more.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">The past few weeks have also been a bit of a hard time for my family and me.&nbsp; The week before Christmas, my Uncle Nick passed away after a long battle with heart disease and diabetes.&nbsp; He was one of the strongest men I knew and one of my biggest cheerleaders through this surgery. &nbsp;It was devastating.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I loved him so much and miss him terribly.&nbsp;&nbsp;Even though I wish he was still here, I know he suffered so much and is in a better place now.&nbsp;&nbsp;But, no matter how many times I say that to myself, It doesn't make it any easier to get over his loss. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">So, this year I decided to run a 5k this year for diabetes research in my uncle’s name.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>(I figure it will help me be less afraid of running it and keep me from putting it off) &nbsp;I’m still trying to find one close by, so if any of you know of one in MA, please let me know!&nbsp; More to come on that, so I’ll keep you posted.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Lastly, and on a completely happier note, I have officially met someone.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Times;">I know…crazy, right? &nbsp;</span>But the story how we met is even crazier.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Who is he?&nbsp; Well, he is one of my cousin’s best friends.&nbsp; Yes…my cousin…the son of my uncle who just passed away. &nbsp;</span>We met at the funeral.&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Well...sort of. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Times;">He spied me there and asked my cousin about me.&nbsp; (Him actually hitting on me at a funeral would have been a way better story, but alas…he is a gentleman)&nbsp; We got in touch a few days after and since then we have pretty much seen each other every day.&nbsp;&nbsp;It's been amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Was it coincidence?&nbsp; Was it fate?&nbsp;&nbsp;Really,&nbsp;I don't know. &nbsp;But whatever the reason, I know that my uncle had a part in it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><br />You guys, this guy is awesome and for some crazy reason he really seems to adore me!&nbsp; I wish I could go into more detail, but I’ll just leave it at that.&nbsp; Things seem to be moving quickly and we are seeing where it goes, but I’m fairly confident that I am at least in for a long-term relationship with a fantastic guy.&nbsp; I couldn’t be happier.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">SO, as you can see, my past few weeks have really had their ups and downs…but I've survived it all and now I can hopefully</span>&nbsp;keep you guys better updated. &nbsp;And when it feels right, I promise that I’ll introduce you to this mystery guy!&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Until then, I feel a lot of “dating after surgery” related posts in the future. &nbsp;Be excited. &nbsp;: )&nbsp;</div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-24606007328969536362011-01-13T15:15:00.002-05:002011-01-13T15:36:33.925-05:00Let it snow?...<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I have a severe “love/hate” relationship with snow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">For me, the first snow of the season brings on excitement.&nbsp; It seems so beautiful coming down out of the sky coating everything in a fresh white blanket.&nbsp; It’s like everything is fresh and new and nothing can go wrong in the world.&nbsp; And, every year, this excitement lasts for…mmmm….maybe 2-3 hours.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">After&nbsp; the first few hours of the first big storm of the season the “oh my god I just remembered that snow sucks” anxiety sinks in.&nbsp; Even more so now that I have a house and a job that I have to go to whether it is snowing or not!&nbsp; (essential employees, are you with me on this?!?!?)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">But the absolute worst thing about snow is shoveling.&nbsp; Shoveling has to be the worst chore on the planet to do.&nbsp; I hate it.&nbsp; HATE it.&nbsp;&nbsp; And last year, it actually made me cry.&nbsp; This is my driveway last year.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TS9bP00gBtI/AAAAAAAAAVE/KIBL8apCPyw/s1600/GetAttachment-2.aspx.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TS9bP00gBtI/AAAAAAAAAVE/KIBL8apCPyw/s320/GetAttachment-2.aspx.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Now, since babies have to be born whether it is snowing or not, I have to go to work whether it is snowing or not…which means that sometimes I have to clear my driveway during a blizzard.&nbsp; You can imagine how fun that is.&nbsp; Last year, we really had only one big storm.&nbsp; And I shoveled my driveway.&nbsp; All by my self.&nbsp;&nbsp;(see the picture above) &nbsp;And cried for about 3 of the 4 hours it took me to do it.&nbsp; I was sweaty, sore, and out of breath by the time I was done.&nbsp; It was awful.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">I would love to tell you that this year I was so fit that I shoveled the whole thing in half the time without so much as a sniffle.&nbsp; But screw that.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TS9bfwhLDdI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/T5Lawf54LIg/s1600/100_1474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TS9bfwhLDdI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/T5Lawf54LIg/s200/100_1474.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Times;">This year, I bought a snow blower.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">It is awesome and most likely the best $700 I have ever spent in my entire life.&nbsp; I had Mike come over and help me (one, because I hate large pieces of equipment that can injure me and two, because he LOVES it) &nbsp;I know shoveling is good exercise and all that, but for my mental health, it had to be done.&nbsp; And I would rather go to the gym and run for an hour than be outside in the cold with a shovel.&nbsp; Hands down.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TS9bVASfeYI/AAAAAAAAAVI/ODYiEmQHdlA/s1600/100_1470_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TS9bVASfeYI/AAAAAAAAAVI/ODYiEmQHdlA/s200/100_1470_1.JPG" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">But even though I was in “this year I have a snowblower” bliss, I realized that I had a big problem.&nbsp; I had nothing to wear outside in the snow!&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Seriously, How did I not realize that I needed a coordinating outfit for snow removal?&nbsp; UGH….So annoying.&nbsp; Eventually, I settled on several sweatshirts with a windbreaker and an older pair of jeans.&nbsp; I was freezing the entire time, but it worked.&nbsp; Mike did the driveway with the snowblower, and I shoveled the walkways and the stairs. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">Now, I’m not sure if it was because it only took us an hour or so, or if it was because I actually have muscles this year, but I could really feel the difference.&nbsp;&nbsp; The actual “shoveling” part wasn’t nearly as bad as normal, and besides a bit of frostbite, I remained uninjured.&nbsp;&nbsp;And, while Mike finished the driveway (I think he felt bad I was so cold and sent me inside) I made pancakes and sausages for us for breakfast! &nbsp;Delish!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TS9bcZjT_oI/AAAAAAAAAVM/lQP8oi4cryA/s1600/100_1478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TS9bcZjT_oI/AAAAAAAAAVM/lQP8oi4cryA/s200/100_1478.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">So I guess I can like snow a little bit more now.&nbsp; I still need to harass people to come use my snowblower for me, but I can live with that. &nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times;">And, hey...at least I get to go shopping for a new outfit!&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-14995145833999869812011-01-01T17:02:00.000-05:002011-01-01T17:02:07.735-05:00New day...new year...new resolutions...<!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">For the first time ever…ever in my life…my New Year’s resolution is not to lose weight.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I almost don’t know what to do with myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">This was always a no-brainer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Weight loss has been my “go-to” resolution for as long as I can remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I mean, it was the obvious thing in my life that needed to change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>But, now that I have achieved that goal in my life, I can step back and really see what else I can improve in myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">So, this year I decided to look inside. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">This year I have decided to try and be a more optimistic person and to stop complaining so much about what I don’t have or haven’t done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I know I am a complainer and it is fairly obvious when I am not happy and don’t get my way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It is a trait I don’t like in others and I no longer want to see in myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">That being said, I also want to try be less judgmental of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Sometimes, I can be very opinionated about what I think is right and how others should live their life and I really want to work on accepting people for who they are…good and bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It’s not my job to try and change people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Not to mention that expecting people to change all the time hasn’t really gotten me very far…except to make me complain more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">See resolution number one.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">Eleven has always been my favorite number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And in my life, eleven is the number that has always brought me good luck. &nbsp;All of the blood, sweat, and tears</span>&nbsp;that I went through in 2010 has really set me up for what I can only imagine will be a fantastic 2011!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>I am really optimistic that great things are going to happen for me and I can’t wait to see what this year brings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">It’s going to be amazing…I just know it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>Happy New Year, everyone! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TR-i1WxOLJI/AAAAAAAAAU8/pe7monKJBw8/s1600/newyearscard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TR-i1WxOLJI/AAAAAAAAAU8/pe7monKJBw8/s640/newyearscard.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment-->Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1485835481754329509.post-23473591684391626392010-12-29T08:54:00.000-05:002010-12-29T08:54:10.980-05:00Welcome!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TRs8Fmu_c1I/AAAAAAAAAU4/N_jwtK7ry38/s1600/blog3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TRs8Fmu_c1I/AAAAAAAAAU4/N_jwtK7ry38/s640/blog3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TRs7-gki7hI/AAAAAAAAAU0/0rNqnkRcfbw/s1600/blog2_dailydose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pGBw60VydMw/TRs7-gki7hI/AAAAAAAAAU0/0rNqnkRcfbw/s640/blog2_dailydose.jpg" width="460" /></a>If you are stopping by because of my mention in the "other heath blogs" list on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/blog/dailydose/">Boston.com's Daily Dose</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;(a part of their heath and wellness section <a href="http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/">here</a>)...WELCOME!!! &nbsp;</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I'm so excited (and honored) for the shout out from them.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Please come back often and feel free to leave comments! &nbsp;: )</div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17476855510193564807noreply@blogger.com0